Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Weekly Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox at the end of every week to highlight what’s happening with your Maine ski resort!
Mountain Report:
Mountain Name
Trails Open
Percent Open
Saddleback
63 / 68
92%
Sugarloaf
117 / 176
69%
Sunday River
101 / 139
72%
Pleasant Mountain
31 / 47
70%
Trail of the Day: Broccoli Garden Glades (Sugarloaf)
Upcoming Events:
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Free Ski Night @ Black Mountain of Maine
January 10
March 20
Every Wednesday
Hill Climb @ Black Mountain of Maine
January 19
January 19
One Day
WinterKids Family Day @ Mt. Abram
January 20
January 20
One Day
Vertical Challenge @ Black Mountain of Maine
January 20
January 20
One Day
Snodeo Weekend In Rangeley
January 25
January 28
Four Days
Sugarloaf Charity Summit
January 27
January 27
One Day
Rangeley Fat Bike Loppet @ RLTC
January 28
January 28
One Day
IFSA Junior Freeride @ Saddleback
January 28
January 28
One Day
USASA Rail Jam @ Saddleback
January 28
January 28
One Day
Fire on the Mountain @ Sugarloaf
February 2
February 4
Three Days
WinterKids Family Day @ BigRock
February 4
February 4
One Day
Fat Bike Race @ Sugarloaf Outdoor Center
February 11
February 11
One Day
February Fest @ Saddleback
February 23
February 23
One Day
Vertical Challenge @ Black Mountain of Maine:
Happening at Black Mountain of Maine on Saturday, January 20, the Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain. Learn more below.
Help raise money for families in need by participating in Sugarloaf and WinetKids Downhill 24. Happening from February 29, to March 1. To register and learn more about this special opportunity to ski around the clock, click the link below!
While this is an event for the other popular winter activity in Rangeley, we’re talking about it due to the scale of the event. Rangeley’s Snodeo Weekend kicks off on Thursday, January 25, and runs through Sunday, January 28. With lots of festivities happening near or around the trails, including fireworks and a snowmobile parade, you won’t want to miss it! Learn more by clicking the link below!
Join the WinterKids families at Mt. Abram for a day of fun! Happening on Saturday, January 20, you won’t want to miss it! With discounted tickets through the WinterKids app, ski the fresh snow for less! Please note: WinterKids App Family Membership is required to take advantage of special offers on this Family Day.
The Sugarloaf Charity Summit, Sugarloaf’s premier fundraising event, provides an opportunity for Sugarloafers, old and new, to join forces in the fight against cancer. Their efforts to raise a mountain of money have been going strong for 24 years and you can join them on January 27, 2024. Learn more below!
The Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides are back in Downtown Rangeley. See the full schedule below!
• Saturday, January 20th • Saturday, January 27th • Saturday, February 3rd • Saturday, February 10th • Saturday, February 17th • Sunday, February 18th 11:30-1:30pm (Winterpaloozah) • Tuesday, February 20th • Thursday, February 22nd • Saturday, February 24th • Saturday, March 2nd • Saturday, March 9th • Saturday, March 16th
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Skier Services:
Check out the Skier Services page on our website. This page is filled to the brim with things skiers will find helpful. With pages like a resort status page, mountain guides to Saddleback, Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Pleasant Mountain, Black Mountain of Maine, and Lost Valley (With more to come, stay tuned), and more. Find it all on the Skier Services page from the website or by clicking the link below.
The Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K registration is now open. Thankfully, you have time to prepare for the race, as the deadline to sign up is April 15. For more information on the races, click the link below.
It’s been a long time in the making, but I’m extremely excited to share our gear guide page with you. Complete with beginner, intermediate, and expert pages filled with the appropriate gear for each level. Check it out by clicking the link below.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
What a great week to be a skier in Maine. On Tuesday, Mother Nature gifted us with over 10” of fresh, light snow. Resorts doubled or even tripled their trail counts, due to the scale. With this weekend remaining cold, that snow isn’t going anywhere. Tips up!
Weather:
With the cold front that has moved into Maine sticking around for another couple of days, the snow we got on Tuesday is still doing great and the conditons are amazing. Plus, we’re currently eyeing a couple storms coming next week with some snow. Keep doing those snow dances! For current lift status, click the link below.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Weekly Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox at the end of every week to highlight what’s happening with your Maine ski resort!
Mountain Report:
Mountain Name
Trails Open
Percent Open
Saddleback
47 / 68
69%
Sugarloaf
56 / 176
33%
Sunday River
61 / 139
44%
Pleasant Mountain
23 / 47
52%
Trail of the Day: The Horn (Pleasant Mountain)
Upcoming Events:
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Free Ski Night @ Black Mountain of Maine
January 10
March 20
Every Wednesday
Slopeside Fire Dancing @ Sunday River
January 13
January 13
One Day
Winter Festival @ Pleasant Mountain
January 14
January 14
One Day
WinterKids Family Day @ Mt. Abram
January 20
January 20
One Day
Vertical Challenge @ Black Mountain of Maine
January 20
January 20
One Day
Fire In The Hole @ Black Mountain of Maine
January 20
January 20
One Day
Snodeo Weekend In Rangeley
January 25
January 28
Four Days
Sugarloaf Charity Summit
January 27
January 27
One Day
Rangeley Fat Bike Loppet @ RLTC
January 28
January 28
One Day
IFSA Junior Freeride @ Saddleback
January 28
January 28
One Day
USASA Rail Jam @ Saddleback
January 28
January 28
One Day
Fire on the Mountain @ Sugarloaf
February 2
February 4
Three Days
WinterKids Family Day @ BigRock
February 4
February 4
One Day
Fat Bike Race @ Sugarloaf Outdoor Center
February 11
February 11
One Day
February Fest @ Saddleback
February 23
February 23
One Day
Winter Festival:
Pleasant Mountain’s Winter Festival is this Sunday, January 14. This rescheduled event is set to take place at the base lodge. With fireworks, a torchlight parade, and more, you won’t want to miss it! Click the link below to learn more!
The Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides are back in Downtown Rangeley. See the full schedule below!
• Saturday, January 13th • Saturday, January 20th • Saturday, January 27th • Saturday, February 3rd • Saturday, February 10th • Saturday, February 17th • Sunday, February 18th 11:30-1:30pm (Winterpaloozah) • Tuesday, February 20th • Thursday, February 22nd • Saturday, February 24th • Saturday, March 2nd • Saturday, March 9th • Saturday, March 16th
Vertical Challenge @ Black Mountain of Maine:
Happening at Black Mountain of Maine on Saturday, January 20, the Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain. Learn more below.
It’s been a long time in the making, but I’m extremely excited to share our gear guide page with you. Complete with beginner, intermediate, and expert pages filled with the appropriate gear for each level. Check it out by clicking the link below.
The Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K registration is now open. Thankfully, you have time to prepare for the race, as the deadline to sign up is April 15. For more information on the races, click the link below.
Check out the Skier Services page on our website. This page is filled to the brim with things skiers will find helpful. With pages like a resort status page, mountain guides to Saddleback, Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Pleasant Mountain, Black Mountain of Maine, and Lost Valley (With more to come, stay tuned), and more. Find it all on the Skier Services page from the website or by clicking the link below.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
What a weird storm. While most of Maine saw snow, which quickly turned to rain and melted away, the ski mountains saw mostly snow. Those snow totals were upwards of 12+”. With another storm on the way, we could be gearing up for a great January!
Weather:
We’re keeping a watchful eye on Saturday’s storm and praying that it stays snow. Those totals are insane, and we hope it works out! Keep doing those snow dances, Mainely Skiers! For current lift status, click the link below.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Weekly Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox at the end of every week to highlight what’s happening with your Maine ski resort!
Mountain Report:
Mountain Name
Trails Open
Percent Open
Saddleback
16 / 68
24%
Sugarloaf
40 / 176
23%
Sunday River
40 / 139
29%
Pleasant Mountain
8 / 47
17%
Trail of the Day: Northern Lights (Sunday River)
Upcoming Events:
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Indie Demo Day @ Sunday River
January 6
January 6
One Day
Vertical Challenge @ BigRock
January 6
January 6
One Day
2nd Annual Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback
January 7
January 7
One Day
Rangeley Fat Bike Loppet @ RLTC
January 28
January 28
One Day
IFSA Junior Freeride @ Saddleback
January 28
January 28
One Day
Fire on the Mountain @ Sugarloaf
February 2
February 4
Three Days
February Fest @ Saddleback
February 23
February 23
One Day
Electric Mountain:
Join fellow Sugarloafers in the Widowmaker this weekend for the 2nd. Annual Electric Mountain. This 21+ event is filled with live EDM preformances from people like Max Dansky, The HIVE, G-Space, Finneh, Mystyk Forest, and more. Check it out below!
The Vertical Challenge is set to take on BigRock on January 6, 2024. The Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain.
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Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:
The Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides are back in Downtown Rangeley. See the full schedule below!
• Saturday, January 6th • Saturday, January 13th • Saturday, January 20th • Saturday, January 27th • Saturday, February 3rd • Saturday, February 10th • Saturday, February 17th • Sunday, February 18th 11:30-1:30pm (Winterpaloozah) • Tuesday, February 20th • Thursday, February 22nd • Saturday, February 24th • Saturday, March 2nd • Saturday, March 9th • Saturday, March 16th
Vertical Challenge @ Black Mountain of Maine:
Happening at Black Mountain of Maine on Saturday, January 20, the Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain. Learn more below.
It’s been a long time in the making, but I’m extremely excited to share our gear guide page with you. Complete with beginner, intermediate, and expert pages filled with the appropriate gear for each level. Check it out by clicking the link below.
The Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K registration is now open. Thankfully, you have time to prepare for the race, as the deadline to sign up is April 15. For more information on the races, click the link below.
Our Resort Status page is now live. Complete with the various ski areas we cover, you’ll have all the important information relevant to us skiers. Check out the page below.
Saddleback will host the Vertical Challenge on Sunday, January 7. The event is a series of free casual ski and snowboard races open to all ages and abilities. Skiers and snowboarders are divided by gender and age to compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals in each category. Check it out by clicking the link below.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
With great snowmaking temps and good conditions all around, this past week has been one you don’t want to miss. With photos coming out of the resorts like the one from Maine Mountain Media (below), it’s safe to say winter is back!
Photo: Maine Mountain Media (Taken 1.2.24)
Weather:
With some snow coming on Sunday and even more next week, the excitement is building here in the Maine mountains! See the weather and make sure to click the link below to see current lift status.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Weekly Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox at the end of every week to highlight what’s happening with your Maine ski resort!
Mountain Report:
Mountain Name
Trails Open
Percent Open
Saddleback
0 / 68
0%
Sugarloaf
20 / 176
12%
Sunday River
0 / 139
0%
Pleasant Mountain
11 / 47
25%
Trail of the Day: Tote Road (Sugarloaf)
Upcoming Events:
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Santa Visits @ Saddleback
December 23
December 23
One Day
Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides in Downtown Rangeley
December 23
December 23
One Day
Christmas Eve Service @ Sugarloaf’s Dick Bell Chapel
December 24
December 24
One Day
Christmas Vacation Week
December 25
December 29
Five Days
Indie Demo Day @ Sunday River
January 6
January 6
One Day
2nd Annual Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback
January 7
January 7
One Day
Rangeley Fat Bike Loppet @ RLTC
January 28
January 28
One Day
IFSA Junior Freeride @ Saddleback
January 28
January 28
One Day
Fire on the Mountain @ Sugarloaf
February 2
February 4
Three Days
February Fest @ Saddleback
February 23
February 23
One Day
2023 Mountains Update:
So… On Monday, December 18, a day that will go down in 2023 skier history, Maine saw over 5 inches of rainfall. Plus, the warm temps melted a lot of snow, making for loads of runoff. River capacity was maxed out, towns flooded, and, roads were washed out, and resorts saw crazy infrastructure damage. This forced the resorts in the state to close down to assess the damage. Make sure to check your local mountain’s report page before planning a return to the mountains.
Christmas Break:
Get ready for the always busy Christmas Vacation Week. This week, it looks like it will be packed with family-friendly events happening all week. For the most up-to-date information, make sure to bookmark the events page or click the link below!
The Vertical Challenge is set to take on BigRock on January 6, 2024. The Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain.
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Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:
The Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides are back in Downtown Rangeley. See the full schedule below!
Saturday, December 23rd • Wednesday, December 27th • Saturday, December 30th • Saturday, January 6th • Saturday, January 13th • Saturday, January 20th • Saturday, January 27th • Saturday, February 3rd • Saturday, February 10th • Saturday, February 17th • Sunday, February 18th 11:30-1:30pm (Winterpaloozah) • Tuesday, February 20th • Thursday, February 22nd • Saturday, February 24th • Saturday, March 2nd • Saturday, March 9th • Saturday, March 16th
Opening Days:
That first chair is always one of the most exciting moments in the early season. It’s time to start waxing those skis, dusting off gear and making sure your pass is ready. mainelyskiing.com/season-passes 😉 you’ll thank me later. Below is a table of the opening days as we know right now. Plus, for a more frequently updated list, click the link below.
Happening at Black Mountain of Maine on Saturday, January 20, the Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain. Learn more below.
Santa Claus is comin’ to town on Saturday, December 23 at Saddleback. He’ll make a stop in Rangeley before heading back to the North Pole to get ready for a busy Christmas Eve! Click the link to read more!
It’s been a long time in the making, but I’m extremely excited to share our gear guide page with you. Complete with beginner, intermediate, and expert pages filled with the appropriate gear for each level. Check it out by clicking the link below.
The Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K registration is now open. Thankfully, you have time to prepare for the race, as the deadline to sign up is April 15. For more information on the races, click the link below.
Our Resort Status page is now live. Complete with the various ski areas we cover, you’ll have all the important information relevant to us skiers. Check out the page below.
Saddleback will host the Vertical Challenge on Sunday, January 7. The event is a series of free casual ski and snowboard races open to all ages and abilities. Skiers and snowboarders are divided by gender and age to compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals in each category. Check it out by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails:
Difficulty
Trail Name
Difficulty
Trail Name
Hatchet
Bucksaw
Feller-Buncher
Cutter
Chipper
Whistle Punk
Upper Beaver Tail
Lower Beaver Tail
Knot Bumper
Yarder
Twitcher
West Mountain Crosscut
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
Sadly, after Monday’s storm, the resort’s trail counts have been reduced back down to snowmaking trails and very limited lifts. The good thing is that there isn’t a big worry of hitting rocks, stumps, grass, or other early season conditions… It’s just snow!
Weather:
We’re forecasting some better snowmaking weather for the weekend before Christmas Break. Start your vacation off right in the mountains! Click the link below to see current lift status.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Weekly Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox at the end of every week to highlight what’s happening with your Maine ski resort!
Mountain Report:
Mountain Name
Trails Open
Percent Open
Saddleback
0 / 68
0%
Sugarloaf
8 / 176
5%
Sunday River
13 / 139
9%
Pleasant Mountain
0 / 47
0%
Trail of the Day: Kings Landing (Sugarloaf)
Upcoming Events:
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Saddleback Pub Opens
November 24
November 24
One Day
Saddleback Opening Day
December 2
December 2
One Day
Live Auction at Black Mountain of Maine
December 2
December 2
One Day
Demo Day @ Sunday River
December 9
December 9
One Day
Sunday River Santa Sunday
December 10
December 10
One Day
Sugarloaf Tree Lighting Festival
December 16
December 16
One Day
Winterfest Weekend @ Sunday River
December 16
December 17
Two Days
Christmas Vacation Week
December 25
December 29
Five Days
Indie Demo Day @ Sunday River
January 6
January 6
One Day
2nd Annual Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback
January 7
January 7
One Day
Rangeley Fat Bike Loppet @ RLTC
January 28
Januaray 28
One Day
IFSA Junior Freeride @ Saddleback
January 28
January 28
One Day
Fire on the Mountain @ Sugarloaf
February 2
February 4
Three Days
February Fest @ Saddleback
February 23
February 23
One Day
Sunday River / Sugarloaf Is Open:
Last week, both Sunday River and Sugarloaf sent the first chair of the 2023-24 ski season up the hill. Welcome to the start of the ski season. We hope it’s a long and snowy one! Check out the current lift status by clicking the link below!
On Monday night, snowmaking crews from Pleasant Mountain, Lost Valley, and Black Mountain of Maine all fired up their equipment. While the snow we got on Wednesday will help build bases, we hope it’s just the start of “Snowvember”. Bring it on, Mother Nature. For the most current report on your local resorts, click the link below.
The Downeast Ski Club Ski Sale is happening this Saturday from 8:00am – 3:00pm at the Portland Expo in Portland Maine. Admission is free, and thousands of items are up for sale. You’re bound to find great deals all day! For more information, click the link below.
That first chair is always one of the most exciting moments in the early season. It’s time to start waxing those skis, dusting off gear and making sure your pass is ready. mainelyskiing.com/season-passes 😉 you’ll thank me later. Below is a table of the opening days as we know right now. Plus, for a more frequently updated list, click the link below.
It’s been a long time in the making, but I’m extremely excited to share our gear guide page with you. Complete with beginner, intermediate, and expert pages filled with the appropriate gear for each level. Check it out by clicking the link below.
This week, Saddleback announced $49 lift tickets available for the full season. Act fast, as there are only so many tickets being sold at that price before going to the next pricing tier. Click the link to purchase now.
The Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K registration is now open. Thankfully, you have time to prepare for the race, as the deadline to sign up is April 15. For more information on the races, click the link below.
Our Resort Status page is now live. Complete with the various ski areas we cover, you’ll have all the important information relevant to us skiers. Check out the page below.
Season passes have been on sale throughout the summer but to take advantage of the savings, you better purchase now! Check out the table to see all season passes:
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails:
Difficulty
Trail Name
Difficulty
Trail Name
Hatchet
Bucksaw
Feller-Buncher
Cutter
Chipper
Whistle Punk
Upper Beaver Tail
Lower Beaver Tail
Knot Bumper
Yarder
Twitcher
West Mountain Crosscut
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr, and is set to be completed by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week of the lift construction. See more by clicking the links below.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
This past week, we were welcomed by the first big storm of the season. Dropping 7-10 inches across the resorts. Keep doing those snow dances!
Weather:
We’re back into snowmaking temps which means the mighty snowmakers headed back to the hill. The good thing is that these temps should allow Saddleback to stick with their opening day, Dec 2. The bad is that we’ll be skiing under snowmaking clouds. These lows should bring some amazing expansions. Keep tabs on the lift status page for more info.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Fall Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Maine Foliage Report:
The Maine Foliage Report brought to you by MaineFoliage.com
(AUGUSTA, Maine) – With the official arrival of autumn, Mainers and leaf peeping enthusiasts can look forward to the fall colors spreading throughout Maine. The third 2023 Fall Foliage Report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) reports moderate color change (30-50 percent) throughout most of Maine with low to moderate leaf drop (less than 50 percent).
This Week’s Foliage Outlook
“Its anticipated that Maine will see warmer temperatures this upcoming week. But keep in mind, we are still in the midst of shorter, sunny days, followed by crisp, cool nights without a killing frost, which helps accelerate the beautiful foliage colors that makes fall in Maine so special!” said Gale Ross, fall foliage spokesperson.
Upcoming Events:
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Oktoberfest 5K @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Pumpkin Decorating @ Sugarloaf
October 7
October 7
One Day
North American Wife Carrying Championship @ Sunday River
October 7
October 7
One Day
Balence Bike Race @ Sugarloaf
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
New England Corn Hole Championship @ Sunday River
October 8
October 8
One Day
Uphill Climb @ Sugarloaf
October 8
October 8
One Day
Winterfest Weekend @ Sunday River
December 16
December 17
Two Days
XTERRA Trail Run:
Join Sugarloaf on Sep 30 – Oct 1 for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. Sugarloaf Mountain has been chosen as the pinnacle event for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. A weekend-long trail running festival that will see top elite and amateur runners compete for $10,000 in prize money and XTERRA championship crowns in both full and half marathon distances. Live music, great food, and family entertainment will keep the energy high throughout the weekend, with 5K and 10K trail runs, and races for kids to ensure everybody can get involved. For more information and to sign up, click the link below.
Big Moose Mountain in Greenville, formally named Big Squaw, needs your help. The mountain has been hard at work reclaiming the upper mountain trails by bringing them back to skiable terrain. This is only made possible due to the support on GoFundMe. The mountain has raised about 30% of their goal of $60,000. If you’ve skied here before the upper mountain closed in 2004, you know it was a special experience. You can help bring this back by donating to the mountain’s GoFundMe. Click the link below to see the money raised and donate. Click here: link
Crews are also working on replacing the existing lift’s communication line. This isn’t an easy task, especially with a small crew. Nevertheless, Big Moose Mountain pushes on.
If those jobs aren’t enough, the trusty ol’ tarp only lasts for so long before talks emerge about what to do. The lodge for the upper mountain, which sits near the top unload of the current lift has a pool, which has the roof needing to be replaced. On Wednesday, the mountain posted to Facebook asking for ideas and within a day, they had the majority of the roofing material paid for thanks to generous donors. If you would like to support the mountain in its efforts to become a bigger and better ski area, click the link to support.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
Pleasant Mountain, formally Shawnee Peak, in Bridgton, is selling season passes now! With passes starting at $249, it’s a deal worth jumping on if you’re in the Portland area. Click the link to purchase your pass today! The next deadline is October 11.
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, Oktoberfest is right around the corner. Make sure to sign up so you won’t miss out on the festivities!
Schedule of Events
10-11 a.m. – Oktoberfest 5K
11 a.m. – Festival gates open. TJ Swan performs on the deck.
12 p.m. – Pie eating contest on the deck. $10 entry. The winner gets a pie and a gift card to The Pub.
1:30-3:30 – SKOSH performs on the deck.
3:30 – Stein Hoisting Championship! 10 men’s/women’s qualifiers will go head-to-head. This is always an Oktoberfest favorite – don’t miss it! Raise your stein and keep it raised! Thanks to our stein sponsor, Hight Auto!
4-8 p.m. – Pub open
Happening All Day – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Keg Toss & Stein Hoisting – these events will run all day. Qualify for the Stein Hosting Championship until 3 p.m.
Costume Contest. Dust off the lederhosen! The person in best-dressed Oktoberfest attire will win a 3-night stay for 9 people in Rangeley thanks to our friends at Morton & Furbish Vacation Rentals. Stay is for a future date in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024.
Biggest BRAT Contest. Pile on the sauerkraut – we’re going to have a contest to see who can load up (and EAT) the heaviest brat! Add your toppings and weigh in. What’s the prize? Brattgin’ rights!
Fall CLEARANCE SALE! Get serious savings on skis, boards, and winter apparel.
Vendor Village – visit vendor booths near the festival entrance for sweet treats like apple crisp and local goods.
For more information and to get tickets, click the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
Don’t miss Sugarloaf’s Homecoming Weekend. Happening October 6-8, this three day event is packed with loads of events both on and off the mountain. Check out the full rundown below.
Friday, October 6
Time
Event Name
Location
Details
9am-3pm
Swig and Swing Golf Tournament
Sugarloaf Golf Course
Registration is full.
Saturday, October 7
Time
Event Name
Location
Details
8am-2pm
Tailgate Ski Swap & Sale
The Rack
Sell or trade your used skis, snowboards, gear, and apparel. Or Donate gently used winter clothing and winter sport equipment to support local schools. Learn more.
9am-12pm
Pumpkin Decorating
The Alfond Competition Center
For ages 12 & under. Online registration is now open. Sign up here.
9am-2pm
Scenic Lift Rides
SuperQuad
Purchase tickets here. 23/24 Season passholders ride for free with their pass present.
9am-4pm
Coat & Gear Drive
Narrow Gauge
Donate gently used winter clothing and winter sport equipment to support local schools. Learn More.
9am-5pm
Upcountry Artists
King Pine Room
Art Show featuring some of Maine’s finest artists & craftsmen.
9am-5pm
Sugarloaf Home Show
Narrow Gauge
Various vendors and info booths
10am-5pm
Bar & Grill
The Beach
Serving food and beverages outside
11am-2pm
Live music by Seagrass
The Beach
Free admission, all ages welcome
1-4pm
Axe Throwing
The Landing
Splittin’ Wood is setting up an axe throwing station. Free to ages 10 & up; first come, first serve.
2:30-5pm
Live music by Aldous Collins Band
The Beach
Free admission, all ages welcome
2:30-3:30pm
Balance Bike Races
Main Street
Registration will open soon
3-6pm
Après Music
Widowmaker
Music by Robin Cottle
6-7pm
Film Viewing Party
Widowmaker
Join us for a night of action packed short films created by Maine film maker, Josh Lawless. Experience mountain biking, powder skiing, stunning sunset jumps, epic backcountry adventures, and more. Free admission, all ages welcome
The Saddleback Bike Park is back open! Let’s all do a little dance to stop the rain… I mean, it’s a suggestion. Anyway, the sun has come out once again, which allowed for the trails to dry up a bit and the crews to get back out and touch them up. The riding will be a little muddy still, but never-the-less fun!
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
Fall colors are on the horizon for the mountains of Maine. Things will be getting good in the next couple of weeks. Still, plenty of colors out right now. Get out and check it out for yourself!
Weather:
These temps sure are looking like fall is here. Get excited by participating in something outdoors. We’re in long sleeve shirt season, keep that in mind when dressing for the day.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Summer Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Maine Foliage Report:
The Maine Foliage Report brought to you by MaineFoliage.com
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) fall foliage spokesperson Gale Ross has announced the start of foliage season throughout the state. The first 2023 Maine Fall Foliage Report, issued each Wednesday throughout the foliage season, reports very little color change throughout the state.
“I like to remind folks that the color change depends on the weather as we advance into fall. We rely on the cooler temperatures and shorter days to enhance the progression of color”
This Week’s Foliage Outlook
“This summer, Maine received a considerable amount of rainfall which will enhance the fall colors, unlike the past two seasons when the state’s forests were impacted by summer drought. Minimal defoliation in certain tree species may impact color in some areas due to the wetter than normal summer, but it should not have a significant impact on our foliage season,” said Gale Ross, Maine’s fall foliage spokesperson.
Upcoming Events:
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Brunch In The Pub
July 9
September 24
Every Sunday
Northwoods Gravel Grind Afterparty
September 9
September 9
One Day
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
XTERRA Trail Run:
Join Sugarloaf on Sep 30 – Oct 1 for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. Sugarloaf Mountain has been chosen as the pinnacle event for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. A weekend-long trail running festival that will see top elite and amateur runners compete for $10,000 in prize money and XTERRA championship crowns in both full and half marathon distances. Live music, great food, and family entertainment will keep the energy high throughout the weekend, with 5K and 10K trail runs, and races for kids to ensure everybody can get involved. For more information and to sign up, click the link below.
Big Squaw Mountain, now called Big Moose Mountain in Greenville, Maine needs your help. The mountain has been working hard to reclaim the upper mountain trails and bring them back to skiable trails. This is only made possible due to their support on GoFundMe. The mountain has raised about 30% of their goal of $60,000. If you’ve skied here before the upper mountain closed in 2004, you know it was a special experience. You can help bring this back by donating to the mountain’s GoFundMe. Click the link below to see the money raised and donate.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, the Saddleback 5k signups are now open.
Registration & Timeline:
Registration Location: The registration area is located in front of the MAIN BASE LODGE. There is plenty of free parking.
Bib/T-shirt Packet pick-up will be on race day beginning at 8:30 am
The race begins at 10:00 AM.
Registration Fee $40
The requested T-shirt size cannot be guaranteed after September 20
The top 3 male/female finishers will receive prizes.
No dogs allowed
The lift will not spin for rides to the top during the 5k.
For more information and to sign up for the race, click the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
The Saddleback Bike Park is back open! Let’s all do a little dance to stop the rain… I mean, it’s a suggestion. Anyway, the sun has come out once again, which allowed for the trails to dry up a bit and the crews to get back out and touch them up. The riding will be a little muddy still, but never-the-less fun!
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
With all the rain we’ve gotten recently, please make sure to drive carefully when coming up to the Rangeley area. Some roads are flooded or washed out entirely in parts of Rangeley, Oquossoc, Bryan, Farmington, Farmington Falls, Jay, Wilton, and more. Drive safe, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
Tropical Storm Warning! Most of Eastern, Central, and Southern Maine are in the Tropical Storm Warning. Remember to take the necessary precautions to prepare and plan for the storm.
Other than Saturday being the day of the storm, the other days look good for some time outside. It’s time to get out because Life is Better Outside!
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Summer Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Oquossoc Day:
It’s that time again for Oquossoc Day! Head over to Oquossoc next Saturday, August 12, for a day of family fun. See he full event schedule below. *Please note events could get added or removed without notice
10:00am – 4:00pm Art & Antique Show and Sale at Outdoor Heritage Museum
10:00am – 12:00pm Cornhole Tournament at Oquossoc Cove
10:00am – 1:00pm Tom Ball Band Live in the Village
10:00am – 2:00pm Car Show at Oquossoc Marine
11:00am Dog Show at Oquossoc Grocery
1:00pm Boat Parade at Oquossoc Cove Marina
2:00pm The Maine Attraction Water Ski Show Team at Oquossoc Cove
3:30pm – 5:00pm Happy Hour & Raffle Drawing at Portage Tap House
See ya on Saturday!
Know Be”fore” You Go:
Time to tee off, Mainely Skiers! All golf courses are open and looking good. Your location tells you a lot about where you’re next round will be played, but I can assure you that where ever you go, you’ll have a great time out on the course. When outside, remember to bring sunscreen, bug spray, water, and tick repellent. It’s also a good idea to wear pants to protect yourself against ticks. Do tick checks often and always.
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Brunch In The Pub
July 9
September 24
Every Sunday
Oquossoc Day
August 12
August 12
One Day
BiKaRu Race in Rangeley
August 13
August 13
One Day
Northwoods Gravel Grind Afterparty
September 9
September 9
One Day
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
Recent Trip To Saddleback:
If you follow us on Facebook and Instagram, (Shamless plug, we know) you might have seen some photos from Saddleback taken last weekend. While Saddleback wasn’t the only stop, I sent the drone up to do a little checking around – without disturbing the wedding party that was there too of course. Take a look at some of the recent pictures. The good news is, the lifts will be there for us in the winter. Head over to the Mountain Lifts Page to see the live countdown.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, the Saddleback 5k signups are now open.
Registration & Timeline:
Registration Location: The registration area is located in front of the MAIN BASE LODGE. There is plenty of free parking.
Bib/T-shirt Packet pick-up will be on race day beginning at 8:30 am
The race begins at 10:00 AM.
Registration Fee $40
The requested T-shirt size cannot be guaranteed after September 20
The top 3 male/female finishers will receive prizes.
No dogs allowed
The lift will not spin for rides to the top during the 5k.
For more information and to sign up for the race, click the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
The Saddleback Bike Park is now open! Featuring their lift-serviced downhill.
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late January – early February with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
WSKI TV posted a video to YouTube showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to snowmaking. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
With all the rain we’ve gotten recently, please make sure to drive carefully when coming up to the Rangeley area. Some roads are flooded or washed out entirely in parts of Rangeley, Oquossoc, Bryan, Farmington, Farmington Falls, Jay, Wilton, and more. Drive safe, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
Well, it’s looking like this weekend is perfect to be hanging out under the sun. Sadly, with the way things have been going, you need to cram all summer into these two days. It’s time to get out because Life is Better Outside!
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Summer Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Fresh Off The Truck:
Yesterday, Saddleback received their delivery from Michigan of their new SMI Snowguns. The shipment included two automated Super Puma snow guns, 27 Grizzly Low-E stick guns, and more PoleCats. They claim, “The Super Puma automatic fan guns are the first in our snowmaking lineup. Big throw = more snow”. The countdown to winter is on!
Know Be”fore” You Go:
Time to tee off, Mainely Skiers! All golf courses are open and looking good. Your location tells you a lot about where you’re next round will be played, but I can assure you that where ever you go, you’ll have a great time out on the course. When outside, remember to bring sunscreen, bug spray, water, and tick repellent. It’s also a good idea to wear pants to protect yourself against ticks. Do tick checks often and always.
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Brunch In The Pub
July 9
September 24
Every Sunday
BiKaRu Race in Rangeley
August 13
August 13
One Day
Northwoods Gravel Grind Afterparty
September 9
September 9
One Day
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
Oktoberfest 5k Signups:
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, the Saddleback 5k signups are now open.
Registration & Timeline:
Registration Location: The registration area is located in front of the MAIN BASE LODGE. There is plenty of free parking.
Bib/T-shirt Packet pick-up will be on race day beginning at 8:30 am
The race begins at 10:00 AM.
Registration Fee $40
The requested T-shirt size cannot be guaranteed after September 20
The top 3 male/female finishers will receive prizes.
No dogs allowed
The lift will not spin for rides to the top during the 5k.
For more information and to sign up for the race, click the link below.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
The Saddleback Bike Park is now open! Featuring their lift-serviced downhill.
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late January – early February with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project their continued investment to snowmaking. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
With all the rain we’ve gotten recently, please make sure to drive carefully when coming up to the Rangeley area. Some roads are flooded or washed out entirely in parts of Farmington, Farmington Falls, Jay, Wilton, and more. Drive safe, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
It’s looking like another electrified weekend – and sadly, I don’t mean that being exciting. We’re looking another weekend of rain and possible T-Storms happening all weekend. Here’s to hoping Sunday stays rain-free and we can do some activities outside. Unfortunately, this summer is shaping up to be the summer that wasn’t.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Summer Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Saddleback Bike Park Now Open:
The Saddleback Bike Park has been open for around a month now, but last week, they announced the grand opening of their lift-serviced downhill.
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
Time to tee off, Mainely Skiers! All golf courses are open and looking good. Your location tells you a lot about where you’re next round will be played, but I can assure you that where ever you go, you’ll have a great time out on the course. When outside, remember to bring sunscreen, bug spray, water, and tick repellent. It’s also a good idea to wear pants to protect yourself against ticks. Do tick checks often and always.
Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here
Event Name:
Start Date:
End Date:
Occurrence:
Brunch In The Pub
July 9
September 24
Every Sunday
BiKaRu Race in Rangeley
August 13
August 13
One Day
Northwoods Gravel Grind Afterparty
September 9
September 9
One Day
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
Oktoberfest 5k Signups:
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, the Saddleback 5k signups are now open.
Registration & Timeline:
Registration Location: The registration area is located in front of the MAIN BASE LODGE. There is plenty of free parking.
Bib/T-shirt Packet pick-up will be on race day beginning at 8:30 am
The race begins at 10:00 AM.
Registration Fee $40
The requested T-shirt size cannot be guaranteed after September 20
The top 3 male/female finishers will receive prizes.
No dogs allowed
The lift will not spin for rides to the top during the 5k.
For more information and to sign up for the race, click the link below.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late January – early February with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
In a Facebook post by Bruce Bicknell to the Unofficial Sugarloaf Facebook Group, you can see the progress already taking place over on West Mountain. To learn more, click the link below.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift isn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. See more by clicking the links below.
Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!
With all the rain we’ve gotten recently, please make sure to drive carefully when coming up to the Rangeley area. Some roads are flooded or washed out entirely in parts of Farmington, Farmington Falls, Jay, Wilton, and more. Drive safe, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
It’s looking like another electrified weekend – and sadly, I don’t mean that being exciting. We’re looking another weekend of rain and possible T-Storms happening all weekend. Here’s to hoping we get a few hours each day to get things done and get outside.
Mainely Skiing 